Footwear made from recycled materials

Because "the best" depends on your style, budget, and what you want the shoe to do (slip-on vs. running sneaker vs. casual flat), there isn't just one winner. Instead, several top-tier brands lead the market by specializing in high-performance shoes crafted from recycled materials:

• Rothy's — Best for chic, washable flats and everyday sneakers. They famously knit their footwear out of single-use plastic water bottles, repurposing millions of bottles that would otherwise head to landfills, while offering a sleek look that holds up to machine washing.
• Allbirds — Best for everyday comfort and casual athletic wear. Known for prioritizing low carbon footprints, Allbirds builds their shoes using a mix of renewable and recycled components like repurposed plastic bottles, sugarcane-based green EVA foam, and Tencel tree fiber.
• Ecoalf — Best for total 100% recycled transparency. This pioneering brand crafts its entire lineup—including stylish urban sneakers—from marine waste like discarded fishing nets, used tires, coffee waste, and recycled PET bottles.
• Vivaia — Best for elegant, office-ready flats and low-profile hybrid shoes. They turn recycled plastic bottles into soft, breathable, flexible threads that form comfortable, stylish footwear with a minimal ecological footprint.
• — Best for ultra-lightweight casual and outdoor sneakers. Their shoes feature uppers made from recycled plastic bottles and insoles constructed out of harvested algae foam (Bloom Foam) combined with cork, reducing the need for virgin plastics.